Straigona B&B

Ample parking is provided for guests at the front of the house. Straigona is set in a large garden with its own ‘standing stone’ taking centre stage! Plenty of room to stroll around or sit and admire the view or for children to run off excess energy.

Straigona B&B is perfect for touring ‘Mainland’ Orkney. Kirkwall is only 5 miles away and Stromness is 20 miles away.

A selection of fiction, DVD’s, Orkney books, local maps, binoculars and various visitor information is provided on the bookcase just outside the dining room, plus a computer is available in the hall for guests use.

Not a dual carriageway or traffic light in sight, great roads with lovely views.

All rooms are en-suite - Inganess, double or family room with double and single bed and ample room for guest bed, en-suite shower. Scapa - can be made up as Twin or Superking, en-suite shower. Skaill - double with room for guest bed, en-suite bath with shower over. Extra pillows, blankets and hot water bottle are provided.

TV with freeview and built in DVD. Tea and coffee making facilities. Bathrobes and toiletries provided.

Evening meals and picnic lunches available by prior arrangement at extra charge.

Orkney has many archaeological sites, some of them older than the pyramids! More details can be found on the Visit Orkney site. We also have some very interesting traditions which you may experience depending on the time of year you visit. You may experience a ‘blackening’ before a wedding, the agricultural and County Shows or The Ba’ at Christmas and New Year. In summer you will experience the long days where it never seems to get dark! If conditions are right, at certain times of the year, you may also see ‘The Merry Dancers’ or Northern Lights.

In Orkney there is a large and varied range of locally produced crafts, art works and food for sale. From traditional Orkney chairs to pottery, tapestry, felt work and many more. Orkney produces its own Orkney Wines, beers, ice cream, cheese and fudge to name but a few. It is a food lovers dream with excellent seafood and meat on offer, often followed by wonderful desserts or homebakes. For those with a sweet tooth we recommend you do not leave without sampling Orkney Fudge Cheesecake or a visit to Gerry’s Ice Cream Parlour in Stenness!

Jewelery is another craft which is popular in Orkney with a number of businesses selling their products direct from their workshops or available in shops in Kirkwall and Stromness. Many of their designs are inspired from the shells, birds and ancient monuments seen in Orkney, giving a lasting momento from your visit. Like many of the artists, most jewellers can be visited in their own workshops, which many visitors enjoy.

Golf - Visitors are welcome at the Kirkwall and Stromness Golf Clubs.

For those who enjoy fishing, there are plenty of good trout fishing lochs to try. There is also sea fishing for those that prefer it.

Orkney is a bird watchers paradise with many species visiting, or living on, our Islands, including puffins and waxwings. Hen harriers are also a fairly common sight! There are several RSPB reserves and the RSPB office in Stromness is a mine of information for the latest sightings. There is plenty of other wildlife in Orkney – plenty of seals always seem to be around and there is the chance you may even see whales! We also have otters, but it is a very lucky person who manages to spot one of them.

Because Orkney is quite flat, cycling and walking can be an enjoyable way of getting about. Cycle hire is easily available from Cycle Orkney. We have garage space at Straigona where bikes can be kept when not in use. Amongst our books is one that will tell you all you need to know about various walks, from the level of difficulty and length, to what birds and wildflowers you might see along the way.

Car Hire - Local firm W R Tullock have a rental desk located in the Kirkwall

Airport terminal. Cars can also be hired from their main offices on Castle Street, Kirkwall.
Isles Travel - If you wish to make a trip to one of the north or south isles during your stay Orkney Ferries provides sailings between the mainland and 13 of the smaller islands. If you would rather fly Loganair operates the inter-island air service.

There are so many things to do in Orkney, the above are just a few! Further information on what you can do during your visit can be found on the VisitOrkney website and we also have personal knowledge of many of the above and are happy to recommend attractions and eating places that we feel you would enjoy.